Lionel Messi Enters His Final World Cup With a Legacy Already Secured
NPR—The 2026 World Cup has become an occasion for widespread reflection on Lionel Messi's career as he plays what observers widely expect to be his final tournament. Feature writers and columnists across multiple publications are examining how Messi has extended his prime far beyond what was previously thought possible for a player of his age. The semifinal against England drew record television ratings, underscoring his enduring commercial and sporting pull. When the tournament ends, commentators across the spectrum agree that Messi will exit with an unmatched legacy.
- NPR — Photos: When the World Cup came to town
- n+1 — The World
- n+1 — World Cupcophony
- China Daily — The world in photos: Dec 4 - Dec 10
- Wired — Wired examined how Messi has defied the concept of early retirement and extended his prime into his late 30s
- New York Post — Lionel Messi’s heroic run about to face World Cup’s toughest test in final
- USA Today — A columnist wrote that when the end came for Messi, he laughed in its face